Weight Loss Drugs: Long-Term Risks & Rebound Weight

0:00On March 5, researchers from the University of Cambridge warned that popular weight loss drugs, like Monjaro and Wegovi, might leave users worse off if they stopped taking them. A new study shows people regain nearly two thirds of the weight they lost within one year after quitting. While some weight comes back quickly, it tends to level off over time. These drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimic a hormone to curb appetite and control blood sugar. Originally for type 2 diabetes, they are now used for obesity treatment on the National Health Service. The analysis looked at six trials with more than 3,200 participants. The big concern is body composition. About half the weight lost during treatment is muscle, but what returns is mostly fat. This shift could harm long-term health more than staying at the starting weight, experts say. By about 60 weeks off the drugs, regain slows. Serving patients hold on to roughly one quarter of their losses.

1:00Still, researchers highlight gaps in prescribing rules, like a two-year cap for Wegovi, but none for Monjaro. Doctors urge pairing meds with diet and exercise habits to fight revound weight. Future studies should track muscle, versus fat changes, to guide better use of these treatments.